Ever have those days when the calendar rules your life, even if you aren’t remembering why? Had one of those today. Woke up feeling the urgent need to pray, but not even sure what about. We made plans for a daughter’s birthday, plans that most folks will ignore. Too busy, this and that, excuses I don’t want to hear. Everyone is grown up and it doesn’t seem like a big deal. The day just seemed to get heavier and heavier. Seems like things that matter just don’t matter to most folks anymore. Life. Life matters, but no one notices. What is it about this day that feels so sad? Then I saw it.
The date.
October 25
Dad’s birthday.
It has been so long, so long, so very very long.
We moved to TN in 1993, and I never really saw him again. I did, but it was so close to the end it didn’t seem like him. But we talked, from the day we moved, and nearly every day or at least several times a week, we talked. Those were the days of expensive long distances land line calls. Those were the days of raising toddlers. But we talked. The cancer progressed, but we talked. From the end of October 1993 until the end of May 1994 we talked. Then for some reason we took a quick trip to California. Memorial weekend, cheap flights, spur of the moment. Must have been what he was waiting for, his family, his children. To say goodbye. We had no idea. The next day he took his last breath.
I am so glad we talked.
Thank you Jesus.
and .. your thoughts?